Electro-magnetic interference shield with locking latch

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic shield is formed from an etched metal sheet so that walls can be bent along etched lines to form an at least partially enclosed structure. A first wall has a first tab, such as a “male” portion, and a second wall has a second tab, such as a “female” portion. The first and second tabs interlock to hold the structure together.

FIELD

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the field of electro-magnetic interference shielding.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Electronic and opto-electronic components are sensitive to electro-magnetic radiation. One way of preventing or reducing electromagnetic interference is by enclosing the electronic and opto-electronic components within a metal enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is a 3-dimensional representation of a metal sheet used to form an electro-magnetic interference shield.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a 3-dimensional representation of the metal sheet of FIG. 1, with the wall sections bent to form an enclosure.

[0005]FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a metal sheet that forms a full enclosure when all the wall sections are bent toward one another.

[0006]FIG. 4 is a flowchart that shows one embodiment of forming an electro-magnetic shield from a sheet of metal.

[0007] Note that use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates the same or like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] An electromagnetic interference shield is used for reducing electro-magnetic interference. The electromagnetic interference shield may be used to shield electro-magnetic radiation from components either inside or outside of the metal shield, depending on whether the components generating the electromagnetic radiation are located inside or outside of the shield.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a 3-dimensional representation of a metal sheet used to form an electro-magnetic interference shield. The metal sheet 10 has a plurality of etched lines 12 that separate the metal sheet into separate wall sections 14. The etched lines may be made by a variety of different etching techniques. In one embodiment, the etching may be performed on one side of the metal sheet and may include etching the metal sheet by approximately a quarter to a half of the thickness of the metal sheet. In another embodiment, the etching may be performed on both sides of the metal sheet. In one embodiment, the metal sheet may have a thickness of approximately 0.0005 to 0.062 inches. Various metals may be used, including but not limited to, aluminum, copper, brass, kovar, invar, nickel, stainless steel, and so forth.

[0010] At least one of the wall sections has one or more first tab sections 20 formed in the metal sheet. At least a different one of the wall sections has a second tab section 22. Other wall sections may have additional tab sections.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first tab sections 20 are extensions of metal forming a “male” portion, and the second tab section 22 form a “female” portion having a hole. The first tab section and the second tab section interlock with one another.

[0012] The tab sections may be formed by a variety of different methods. For example, the tab sections may be formed in the metal sheet by a stamping process, or the tab sections may be formed in the metal sheet via an etch process.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a 3-dimensional representation of the metal sheet of FIG. 1, with the wall sections bent to form an enclosure 30. The wall sections may form a full enclosure or they may form a partial enclosure. Additional metal sheets may be combined with the structure of FIG. 2 to fully enclose one or more electronic and/or optoelectronic components.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a metal sheet 40 that forms a full enclosure when all the wall sections are bent toward one another. Additional tabs may be employed to help keep the wall sections substantially perpendicular to one another.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a flowchart that shows one embodiment of forming an electro-magnetic shield from a sheet of metal. The reader will appreciate that the flowchart is merely for illustration, and does not in all cases imply strict ordering, and that various of the operations may be performed in different orders, or in parallel.

[0016] The flowchart starts at block 100, and continues at block 102, at which one or more electrical or opto-electronic components are placed on the sheet on metal. Of course, one or more insulating layers may separate the electrical or opto-electronic components from the sheet of metal. Additionally, various openings within the sheet of metal may be employed to allow electrical and optical connections to enter and exit the metal shield.

[0017] At block 104, the metal sheet is bent along etched lines in the metal sheet. At least three wall sections are bent toward one another to form an at least partially enclosed structure.

[0018] At block 106, a first tab on one wall is interlocked with a second tab on a second wall to hold the at least partially enclosed structure together.

[0019] At block 108, one or more additional sheets of metal are optionally attached to the at least partially enclosed structure to fully enclose the structure. At block 110, the first tab and/or the second tab are optionally bent to further hold the at least partially enclosed structure together. At block 112, additional tabs may also be employed to further hold the at least partially enclosed structure together. Additional adhesives or epoxies may additionally be used to further hold the structure together. “Holding together” the structure, is deemed to include any assistance to keeping the structure from returning to its planar state. The flowchart ends at block 114.

[0020] Thus, a method and apparatus for electromagnetic shielding is disclosed. However, the specific embodiments and methods described herein are merely illustrative. For example, although some embodiments were described with respect to a box shape, the concepts described can be modified to allow other shapes such as those with triangular shapes, and so forth. Numerous modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below. The invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a metal sheet etched to form a plurality of wall sections, the plurality of wall sections bendable to form a structure having an at least partially enclosed area, at least a first wall section having a first tab formed from the metal sheet, at least a second wall section having a second tab formed from the metal sheet, wherein the first and second tabs interlock to hold the structure in place.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal sheet has a substantially uniform thickness.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the metal sheet has a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inches to 0.062 inches.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tab has a hole in it.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second tab has an extension that fits within the hole of the first tab.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal sheet further comprises: at least a third wall having a third tab formed from the metal sheet, at least a fourth wall having a fourth tab formed from the metal sheet, wherein the third and fourth tabs interlock to hold the structure together.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first tab and the third tab are part of a common wall.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal sheet is etched on only one surface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal sheet is etched on a top and bottom surface.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wall sections of the structure are substantially perpendicular to one another.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one or more electronic and/or optical interfaces in the metal sheet, and one ore more electronic and/or opto-electronic components within the structure coupled to the electronic and/or optical interfaces.
 12. An apparatus comprising: a metal sheet at least partially etched to allow a plurality of walls of the metal sheet to bend in separate planes to form an enclosed box, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls has a first tab, and at least one of the plurality of walls has a second tab, wherein the first and second tabs interlock.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the metal sheet has a substantially uniform thickness.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first tab has a hole in it.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second tab has an extension that fits within the hole of the first tab.
 16. A method of forming an electromagnetic shield from a sheet of metal having etched lines separating the sheet of metal into at least three wall sections, at least one of the three wall sections having a first tab, and at least one of the three wall sections having a second tab, the method comprising: bending the sheet of metal along the etched lines until the at least three wall sections form an at least partially enclosed structure; and interlocking the first tab with the second tab to hold the at least partially enclosed structure together.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: attaching a second sheet of metal to the at least partially enclosed structure to form a fully enclosed structure.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: interlocking a third tab with a fourth tab to hold the at least partially enclosed structure together.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: attaching a second sheet of metal to the at least partially enclosed structure to form a fully enclosed structure.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least partially enclosed structure is fully enclosed.
 21. The method of claim 16, further comprising: placing one or more electronic and/or opto-electronic components in the at least partially enclosed structure. 